The History of Dartmouth CollegeSmith, Baxter Perry
History
The History of Dartmouth College
Smith, Baxter Perry
Dartmouth College -- History
"It was a small folio of four pages, twenty by twelve inches in size.
It was well filled with news and original contributions. Its life was
brief. Unfortunately, no record was made either on the printed page or
the faithful memory, of the date of its decease, so far as I can
learn.
"For several years no periodical was published in Hanover. 'The
Magnet,' an octavo of sixteen pages, edited by students and published
by Thomas Mann, appeared in 1835. The first number bears date October
21, 1835. There seems to have been a rival paper contemporary with
this, called 'The Independent Chronicle.' In the November number of
the 'Magnet,' we find this allusion to it: 'The second number of the
"Independent Chronicle" is below criticism.' In the December number,
the 'Magnet' chronicles the demise of its despised rival, with evident
satisfaction. In 1837, another student's periodical appeared, called
'The Scrap Book.' I am unable to write its history; it was probably of
brief duration. In 1839, the students of Dartmouth College originated
a literary periodical called 'The Dartmouth.' It was published, I
think, for five years. The editors were chosen from the undergraduates
by the Senior class. Among the editors of 1840-41, were J. E. Hood and
James O. Adams, both of whom have since gained honorable distinction
in a wider field of editorial labor. A few months ago, I received as a
present from B. P. Shillaber, the witty and genial author of the 'Life
and Sayings of Mrs. Partington,' and other humorous works, a volume of
'The Dartmouth,' which he received from Mr. Hood. It was handsomely
bound, and labelled 'Brains' on the back. Mr. Shillaber says of it in
a letter, dated July 4, 1872, 'I find, that the volume comprises but a
half year ending with Hood's editorship and graduation. It
nevertheless will prove interesting; and it gives me pleasure to
present it, with a delightful memory of Dartmouth to commend the
trifle. I thought it might gratify you personally, as several of your
effusions are contained in it. Poor Hood has crossed the dark stream:
he died in Colorado last winter. He held you in enduring regard. The
title is a boyish suggestion; but there is more evidence of "_brains_"
in it than is to be found in many far more pretentious publications.'
"These remarks will apply with equal justice to the entire ten volumes
of 'The Dartmouth.' It was highly creditable to the students who
originated and sustained it. 'The Dartmouth' was printed by Mr. E. A.
Allen, who during the continuance of this periodical made several
other ventures in the newspaper line. Sometime during the year 1840 or
1841, he started a paper called 'The Experiment,' which was edited by
James O. Adams, then a student in college. This paper was subsequently
issued in quarto form and called 'The Amulet.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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